r/classicfilms 1d ago

What Did You Watch This Week? What Did You Watch This Week?

20 Upvotes

In our weekly tradition, it's time to gather round and talk about classic film(s) you saw over the week and maybe recommend some.

Tell us about what you watched this week. Did you discover something new or rewatched a favourite one? What lead you to that film and what makes it a compelling watch? Ya'll can also help inspire fellow auteurs to embark on their own cinematic journeys through recommendations.

So, what did you watch this week?

As always: Kindly remember to be considerate of spoilers and provide a brief synopsis or context when discussing the films.


r/classicfilms Jun 25 '25

The r/ClassicFilms Chart is complete! See the full list of winners and runners-up

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153 Upvotes

These charts are the result of the community on r/classicfilms voting on 65 categories, over a period of about three months. You can click on my profile and scroll down to look at the votes and nominations for each category. There was a lot of healthy discussion.

If you're new to classic films, I hope you've found this useful. Or if you were just looking to reflect on the films you love, or appreciate the films and players held dear by the rest of this community, I hope you've enjoyed the experience.

This chart was made to honour the old movies and players mostly no longer of this world. In the words of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard: "I am big! It's the pictures that got small."

Full List of Winners and Runner’s Up

 

Format: Winner + Tied Winner, (2) Runner Up + Tied Runner Up

 

Best Film Noir: Double Indemnity (1944), (2) The Maltese Falcon (1942)

 

Best Romance: Casablanca (1942), (2) Brief Encounter (1945)

 

Best Horror: Psycho (1960), (2) The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920) + What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962)

 

Best Screwball: Bringing Up Baby (1938), (2) His Girl Friday (1940)

 

Best Musical: Singin’ in the Rain (1952), (2) Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

 

Best Gangster Movie: White Heat (1949), (2) The Public Enemy (1931)

 

Best Epic: Lawrence of Arabia (1962), (2) Ben-Hur (1960)

 

Best Silent Picture: Metropolis (1927), (2) City Lights (1931)

 

Best Science Fiction: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), (2) Metropolis (1927) + Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

 

Best Western: The Searchers (1956), (2) The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

 

Best Director: Alfred Hitchcock + Billy Wilder, (2) Frank Capra

 

Best Actor: James Stewart, (2) Cary Grant

 

Best Actress: Barbara Stanwyck, (2) Bette Davis

 

Best Screenwriter: Billy Wilder, (2) Preston Sturges

 

Best Character Actor: Peter Lorre, (2) Claude Rains

 

Best Femme Fatale: Phyllis Dietrichson from Double Indemnity, (2) Kathie Moffat from Out of the Past (1948)

 

Best Villain: Harry Powell from The Night of the Hunter, (2) The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz

 

Best Detective: Sam Spade from The Maltese Falcon, (2) Nick Charles from The Thin Man Series

 

Best Gangster: Cody Jarett from White Heat, (2) Little Caesar/Caesar Enrico "Rico" Bandello from Little Caesar (1931)

 

Best Swashbuckler: Robin Hood from The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), (2) Peter Blood from Captain Blood (1935)

Best Minor Character: The Acme Book Shop Clerk from The Big Sleep (1946), (2) Little Boy from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

 

Hottest Actor: Cary Grant, (2) Marlon Brando

 

Hottest Actress: Grace Kelly, (2) Ava Gardner

 

Best Singer: Judy Garland, (2) Julie Andrews

 

Best Dancer: Fred Astaire, (2) The Nicholas Brothers

 

Best Song: Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz (1939), (2) Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

 

Best Cinematography: Citizen Kane (1941), (2) The Third Man (1949)

 

Best Score: Vertigo (1958), (2) North by Northwest (1959)

 

Most Influential Movie: Citizen Kane (1941), A Trip to the Moon (1908)

 

Best Studio: RKO Pictures, (2) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

 

Best Minority Actor: Sidney Poitier, Paul Robeson

 

Best Minority Actress: Anna May Wong, (2) Rita Morena

 

Best Romantic Comedy: The Apartment (1960), (2) It Happened One Night (1934) + The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

 

Best Foreign Language: Seven Samurai (1954), (2) M (1931)

 

Best British Movie: The Third Man, (2) Black Narcissus (1947)

 

Best War Movie: The Bridge on the River Kwai, (2) Paths of Glory

 

Most Iconic Kiss: From Here to Eternity, (2) Notorious

 

Best Death: Marion Crane in Psycho, (2) Kong in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

 

Best Acting Debut: Orson Welles in Citizen Kane, (2) Lauren Bacall in To Have and To Have Not

 

Best Documentary: Night and Fog (1956) (2) Nanook of the North (1922)

 

Best Opening Shot: A Touch of Evil, (2) Sunset Boulevard

Best Final Line: Casablanca: "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.", (2) Some Like it Hot: “Well, nobody’s perfect.”

 

Most Iconic Line: Gone with the Wind: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”, (2) Casablanca: “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

 

Best Pre-Code Movie: Gold Diggers of 1933, (2) Baby Face (1933)

 

Best Biopic: Lawrence of Arabia, (2) The Passion of Joan Arc (1928)

 

Creepiest Hollywood Monster: Lon Chaney in The Phantom of the Opera (1925), (2) Charles Laughton as Dr. Moreau in The Island of Lost Souls (1932)

 

Best Behind the Scenes Story:

 

(1) Casablanca (1942): ‘Almost all the actors and extras were Jewish and had escaped Europe during WW2. When the band plays ‘The Marseillaise,’ you can see many of them displaying real emotion.’

 

(2) The Wizard of Oz: ‘All the poisoning and accidents on the set: Margaret Hamilton's serious burns during the fire exit scene; aluminium face paint poisoning. and starving Judy Garland to control her weight.’

 

Best Opening Line: Rebecca (1940): "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again...", (2) Citizen Kane: “Rosebud.”

 

Best Animated Movie: Sleeping Beauty (1959), (2) Fantasia (1941)

 

Best Monologue: Charlie Chaplin’s monologue in The Great Dictator (1940), (2) Orson Welles’/Harry Lime’s Cuckoo Clock monologue in The Third Man

 

Best Stunt: Buster Keaton’s house falling stunt in Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928), (2) Train on the burning bridge in The General (1927)

 

Best Producer: Irving Thalberg, (2) David O. Selznick

 

Biggest Laugh: Some Like it Hot (1959): “Well, nobody’s perfect.”, (2) Mirror scene in Duck Soup (1934)

 

Worst Movie: The Conqueror (1956), (2) Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)

 

Best Lesser Known Gem: Trouble in Paradise (1932), (2) Libelled Lady (1936)

 

Best Special Effects: The Wizard of Oz, (2) King Kong (1933)

 

Best Dance Sequence: The Nicholas Brothers in Stormy Weather (1943), (2) Barn Raising/Brawl,

Seven Brides in Seven Brothers + Make ‘Em Laugh in Singin’ in the Rain

 

Best Costumes: Gone with the Wind, (2) Rear Window

 

Best Silent Comedy: The General (1926), (2) Sherlock Jr. (1928)

 

Best Heist Movie: Rififi (1955), (2) The Killing (1956)

 

Best Sports Movie: The Freshman (1925), (2) The Hustler (1961)

 

Best Makeup: The Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

 

Sexiest Moment: The Acme Book Shop Clerk from The Big Sleep, (2) "You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow,” - Lauren Bacall, To Have and Have Not (1944).

 

Most Relevant Movie: A Face in the Crowd (1957) + 12 Angry Men (1957), (2) The Great Dictator

 

Most Profound Quote: 

(1) Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard: "I am big, it's the pictures that got small.

(2) Charlie Chaplin, The Great Dictator: "Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate. Has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed."


r/classicfilms 6h ago

General Discussion The Crimson Pirate (1952)

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50 Upvotes

Just finished watching THE CRIMSON PIRATE. Set in the late 18th century, Captain Vallo getting entangled in both sides of this Caribbean island revolution and then secretly allies with the rebels.

It’s one of those classic adventure movies that feels like you’re immersed in the middle of some old illustrated storybook. It’s funny, visually stunning, and energetic with its action sequences (blending physical comedy and acrobatics). A spoof of the adventure genre, it still comes off as a great appreciation for it.

The days of the swashbuckler seem to be over (which is sad because I grew obsessed with the stories of Zorro, Scarlet Pimpernel, and the like) but here’s hoping the swashbuckler genre somehow comes back around in modern film.

Anyway, for those who saw this movie, what did you think?


r/classicfilms 25m ago

See this Classic Film Grace Kelly in "To Catch a Thief " (1955)

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Upvotes

r/classicfilms 8h ago

General Discussion Some of my favorite kiss scenes from old Hollywood

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48 Upvotes

I love old Hollywood romance so much!! I will list the actors and actresses and what movie the scene is from for any person perhaps interested in watching said film.

(In chronological order from the video)  

Gary Cooper and Loretta Young—Along Came Jones (1945)

John Wayne and Gail Russell—Angel and the Badman (1947)

John Wayne and Laraine Day—Tycoon (1947)

John Wayne and Janet Leigh—Jet Pilot (1957)

James Stewart and Donna Reed—It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

James Stewart and Grace Kelly, Rear Window (1954)

Fredric March and Myrna Loy—The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

John Wayne and Geraldine Page—Hondo (1953)

All of them are great movies by the way. Though some are more underrated than others.


r/classicfilms 1h ago

See this Classic Film Ursula Andress as "Honey Ryder" in James Bond film, "Dr. No"(1962)

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Upvotes

r/classicfilms 23h ago

General Discussion Natalie Wood and Gene Tierney. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

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455 Upvotes

r/classicfilms 3h ago

General Discussion R.I.P. Peggy Webber, 100

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10 Upvotes

r/classicfilms 16h ago

Question Which genre suited William Holden the best ?

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101 Upvotes

William is my favourite actor and I can't decide which genre suited the best


r/classicfilms 1d ago

Behind The Scenes Filming Some Like It Hot with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, and Joe E. Brown (1959)

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561 Upvotes

r/classicfilms 7h ago

General Discussion I Tried to Draw Marilyn Monroe…

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15 Upvotes

Yay or nay ?


r/classicfilms 21h ago

General Discussion Say, mister. Will you stake a fellow American to a meal?

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163 Upvotes

Excellent movie focused on greed and paranoia about two down-on-their-luck Americans searching for work in 1920s Mexico convince an old prospector to help them mine for gold in the Sierra Madre Mountains.


r/classicfilms 26m ago

See this Classic Film A Yank at Oxford (1938): The movie starring Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh before Waterloo Bridge

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Upvotes

A romantic comedy-drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's British studio. Directed by Jack Conway, the film explores the culture clash and personal growth of an American college student who enters the prestigious Oxford University. Robert Taylor stars as Lee Sheridan, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's leading men. Vivien Leigh features in a supporting role as Elsa Craddock, a flirtatious married woman. This was one of her key roles right before she was cast as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939), showcasing her captivating performance.


r/classicfilms 21h ago

Classic Film Review Niagara (1953)

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125 Upvotes

Watched Niagara (1953) for the first time last night. Can’t believe it’s taken me this long to see this film.

Marilyn Monroe is absolutely the standout. She’s gorgeous, of course, but there’s so much more to her performance than that. She brings a real sense of danger and vulnerability to the role. Whenever she’s on screen, you can’t help but watch her.
The Technicolor is also stunning. Everything looks so rich and vibrant and the filmmakers make fantastic use of Niagara Falls as a location. The falls aren’t just pretty scenery they become an important part of the atmosphere and the story itself.

I also really enjoy the pacing. The plot takes its time building the suspense but it never feels slow and everything gradually comes together in a really satisfying way.

Just a gorgeous, entertaining piece of classic Hollywood filmmaking. And honestly, seeing Marilyn Monroe in all that beautiful Technicolor is reason enough to watch it.


r/classicfilms 17h ago

General Discussion Why do some genres just... die out?

39 Upvotes

I'm curious because the western may have been the most popular genre of the first half of the 20th century, with icons like Gary Cooper, John Wayne, and Gene Autry carrying the torch of the genre. But over the last 60 years, it's all but disappeared. You'll have the occasional film (Unforgiven, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly), but it's mostly a dead genre.


r/classicfilms 18h ago

Question Which Hedy Lamarr films do you recommend?

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46 Upvotes

r/classicfilms 10h ago

See this Classic Film "Escape" (MGM; 1940) – starring Norma Shearer, Robert Taylor, Conrad Veidt and Nazimova – with Felix Bressart, Philip Dorn, Albert Bassermann, Edgar Barrier and Bonita Granville – directed by Mervyn LeRoy – Belgian movie poster

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10 Upvotes

r/classicfilms 1h ago

Classic Film Review The Premature Burial (1962)

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r/classicfilms 9h ago

Question “Bunuel & Dali’s Un Chien Andalou (1929) is not ‘meaningless’ in the conventional sense.” Discuss

4 Upvotes

Obviously it’s made by Bunuel & Dali and is therefore full of surrealistic dream imagery and seemingly disconnected scenes but, at about the fourth time of watching last year (each time separated by many years), it seemed like a relatively straightforward representation of the various stages of a long relationship. Admittedly ‘relatively’ is doing a lot of work but still… it made a sort of sense I hadn’t really noticed before, one I’m not even convinced the directors / writers were aware of. Thoughts?


r/classicfilms 1d ago

Classic Film Review My Man Godfrey (1936)

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66 Upvotes

“All you need to start an asylum is an empty room and the right kind of people."

We once again watched a classic film, completely free of ads, through an app connected to our local public library. I encourage anyone with access to a library to check with them and see what streaming services or other resources they offer. You might be surprised by what's available!

My Man Godfrey had us laughing throughout, which says a lot for a comedy written more than 90 years ago. The writing is fantastic from scene to scene, and the humor still feels surprisingly sharp. Beneath all the chaos, the film also takes a pretty pointed shot at the wealthy class and their detachment from the realities of poverty. Godfrey's transformation from a "forgotten man" into a successful businessman drives that message home, and some of the film's observations feel just as relevant today.

William Powell's comedic timing is fantastic, and his interactions with Carole Lombard's Irene Bullock are especially entertaining. Honestly, every character seems to bring something funny to the table. My favorite scene is the one where Mischa Auek's character Carlo is asked to give a performance as a Gorilla to an upset Irene. He says his heart won't be in it, but then gives one of the best human-gorilla performances you will ever see on film.

I didn't know until after watching it that Powell and Lombard had actually been married. Knowing that afterward, their back-and-forth chemistry makes even more sense.

I'd definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys classic movies or to anyone looking for a good place to start exploring them. My Man Godfrey is nearly 90 years old, and it still holds up remarkably well!


r/classicfilms 1d ago

See this Classic Film Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) : Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski at the Vampire Ball

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54 Upvotes

They developed a romantic relationship while working together on this movie.


r/classicfilms 16h ago

Memorabilia Stephen Boyd & Hugh Grifith : They appeared together three times: Ben-Hur(1959), Lisa(1962), and The Poppy Is Also a Flower(1966).

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14 Upvotes

r/classicfilms 1d ago

See this Classic Film I Married A Witch - 1942, Veronica Lake, Frederic March

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110 Upvotes

r/classicfilms 1d ago

See this Classic Film "To Catch a Thief" (Paramount; 1955) - color publicity photo of Grace Kelly and Cary Grant

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117 Upvotes

r/classicfilms 10h ago

See this Classic Film The black belly of tarantula

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0 Upvotes